How to Clean Milk and Cereal from Carpet

Lauren asked, “How do I clean soggy cereal off the carpet?”

You Will Need:

• Spoon or dustpan
• Paper towels
• Soda water or cold water
• Enzyme carpet cleaner
• White shaving foam
• Old toothbrush
• Cloth
• Dish liquid
• Borax
• Vacuum

Steps to Clean the Spill:

1. Scrape up as much of the cereal as you can with a spoon and dustpan.
2. Use paper towels to blot up as much of the milk as possible. Try not to grind the milk or cereal further into the carpet fibers.
3. Sponge the area thoroughly with soda water. If you don’t have soda water, you can use cold water instead.¹
4. Use an enzyme carpet cleaner, such as for pet accidents, like Nature’s Miracle. Follow the instructions on the label. This will remove the stain as well as the odor.²
5. If you don’t have an enzyme carpet cleaner, you can use white foam shaving cream. Apply a small amount to the area and rub it into the carpet fibers with a cloth or old toothbrush. Blot with plain water afterward to rinse.¹
6. Another option is to use dish liquid. Mix a tablespoon of dish liquid into two cups of water. Sponge the solution onto the stain, then blot up the liquid with a dry towel. Repeat until the stain is gone, then sponge with plain water to rinse.³
7. If there is a greasy stain left when the area has dried, mix borax and water to make a paste. Apply the paste to the stain, working it into the carpet fibers. Let the paste dry, then vacuum it up.⁴
8. When you have finished cleaning, vacuum to remove any remaining cereal pieces and lift the carpet fibers.

• Do not use any heat, such as hot water, on the area until you are sure that the stain is removed, as heat can cause a milk stain to set.¹
• If any milk smell remains, use the guide How to Remove Sour Milk Odors from Carpet.

1. Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia
2. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Cleaning by Mary Findley and Linda Formichelli
3. Stain Rescue! by Anne Marie Soto
4. The Stain and Spot Remover Handbook by Jean Cooper